When we first looked at the pools draw for this World Cup, we felt that possibly the pool stages may have ended up being rather one-sided. In many ways they were, certainly in the case of Pool B. However, as always some of the Tier 2 nations packed some genuine punch. Uruguay were well worthContinue reading “Simply put – what a weekend lies in store as the World Cup gets to the business end in Japan!”
Category Archives: General Commentary
Australia take on Fiji in Pool D’s opening match, and should provide one of the most intriguing contests of the weekend!
While the opener with Japan and Russia had its merit, there is no denying that this is the first of the weekend’s key fixtures that have got everyone talking. Australia come into this tournament rather like the Southern Hemisphere’s version of France. Brilliant one day, hopeless the next – the question on everyone’s lips isContinue reading “Australia take on Fiji in Pool D’s opening match, and should provide one of the most intriguing contests of the weekend!”
Let the games begin as perhaps one of the most eagerly anticipated World Cups in the tournament’s history gets underway this weekend!
If like us you love your Test Rugby, then you’ve already negotiated with the family that for all intents and purposes this weekend, you will be around but in body only. Your mind, spirit and attention however will be firmly focused on a TV, computer or tablet screen be it in your house, your mates’Continue reading “Let the games begin as perhaps one of the most eagerly anticipated World Cups in the tournament’s history gets underway this weekend!”
The Lineout’s Annual Southern Hemisphere Report Cards for 2018 – Part 1 – Argentina
As we do at the end of every year with their seasons over till February, we look back at the highs and lows of the Southern Hemisphere season and hand out our verdicts on the big four Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. With less than nine months left before the biggest rugby showContinue reading “The Lineout’s Annual Southern Hemisphere Report Cards for 2018 – Part 1 – Argentina”
The Lineout’s Team of 2018
So as we do at the end of every year, we look back on the last twelve months of International Rugby and pick our Team of the Year. A team is nothing without a good bench, so in fairness to all the outstanding performances we’ve seen from some remarkable players this year, we always pickContinue reading “The Lineout’s Team of 2018”
Rugby – a personal journey
Not our usual fare, but with the holiday season upon us, we thought we’d add a personal note to our regular musings. As the international season takes a much-needed break over the holidays, we thought we too would make a departure from our customary thoughts on the global game and add in a personal twistContinue reading “Rugby – a personal journey”
One of the most fascinating November Test windows in a long time, has given us plenty to think about as we head into a World Cup year!
In a month that saw plenty of excitement, we learnt a great deal about the pecking order in International Rugby and what it means, with less than a year to go before the final whistle in Japan and the crowning of a new World Champion. There were upsets, there was controversy, but throughout we wereContinue reading “One of the most fascinating November Test windows in a long time, has given us plenty to think about as we head into a World Cup year!”
The Lineout’s Annual Report Cards for 2018 – Part 2 – France
With the Northern Hemisphere season now done and dusted till September, we hand out our verdict on the Six Nations Competitors and what we feel they got out of their year on a score out of ten. We’ll be the first to admit it’s completely subjective based on what we saw and where in ourContinue reading “The Lineout’s Annual Report Cards for 2018 – Part 2 – France”
The Lineout’s Annual Report Cards for 2018 – Part 1 – Italy
With the Northern Hemisphere season now done and dusted till September, we hand out our verdict on the Six Nations Competitors and what we feel they got out of their year on a score out of ten. We’ll be the first to admit it’s completely subjective based on what we saw and where in ourContinue reading “The Lineout’s Annual Report Cards for 2018 – Part 1 – Italy”
The Lineout’s Annual Report Cards for 2017 – Part 7 – New Zealand
As always we start the New Year looking back over the past twelve months and handing out our verdict on the top ten teams. We also look at Canada, and a first for this year the USA and Georgia. We try to figure out what they got out of the year on a score outContinue reading “The Lineout’s Annual Report Cards for 2017 – Part 7 – New Zealand”
The Lineout 